New wellness center opens to the public: Officials hope site on Cave Mill Road expands center's local presence

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 12/20/2011

Eva Sadler remembers using The Medical Center Health and Wellness Center when it first opened more than 13 years ago in the Sears wing of Greenwood Mall.

The Bowling Green woman continued going there from time to time to get her blood pressure and weight checked, as well as various screenings when the center moved to the front of the mall, where it was located for about four years.

Sadler is happiest with the center’s new location at 1857 Tucker Way off Cave Mill Road, next to Chandler Park Dental. She dropped by Monday to get her blood pressure checked.

“It’s always been handy because I live near the mall,” she said afterward. “Now it’s closer. I think it’s great.”

The distance from her home wasn’t the only thing that Sadler liked about the center. “The parking is better,” she said. “I think it will make me come more often.”

The Health and Wellness Center opened the doors of its new facility to the public Monday. The first group to use it was the Girls Scouts of Kentuckiana, whose members were taking a baby-sitting class.

“I like it,” said Jennifer Johnson, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana program delivery coordinator, about the center. “It’s really well put together.”

Staffed by registered nurses, dietitians and health educators, the Health and Wellness Center has become more than a place seen by mall shoppers, said Linda Rush, director of community wellness for The Medical Center, which draws from 800 to 1,000 patron visits a month.

“It has become more of a destination point for patrons,” she said. “Before, we were in the mall and people would drop in to get blood pressure screenings.”

The decision to move came after Greenwood Mall chose not to renew the center’s lease, Rush said. They had until Dec. 31 to move.

“We started the process of looking for another place in October,” she said. “We’re starting the new year off in a new space.”

The center needed to be in a place with room to offer educational and exercise classes, blood pressure and other health screenings, body fat analysis, support group meetings and a lending health library. Rush said the new building is comparable in size to the previous location, and the center will be able to offer the same services it offered there.

“The Health and Wellness Center is a health education resource center and a department of The Medical Center,” she said.

The center also offers medical nutritional counseling, diabetes education program and the Healthy Weight Program for Kids available with doctor referral, Rush said.

“Physicians are also referring patients for regular blood pressure screenings, particularly if they’re starting a new medication,” she said. “They come in, and we track it for a few weeks.”

Rush said she is pleased with the new location.

“We’re arranging it to meet the needs of our programs,” she said. “Chandler Park is a growing area. There’s more activity happening on Cave Mill Road, and we’re still near the mall.”

Center Community Wellness Manager Andrea Norris, a registered dietitian, was teaching the baby-sitting class Monday. She said she is enjoying the new venue and believes the class will help people find out about the center.

“It’s great to gather people out here so they’ll know where we’re located,” she said. “We’re having families being able to tell other families. Hopefully that will help.”

The Health and Wellness Center’s new hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Fighting the holiday flab: Easier access to food can bring weight gain

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 12/3/2011

Laura Young is ready to fight against weight gain during the holiday season.

The Richardsville woman has been working out regularly for several weeks at Workout Anytime, a new 24-hour gym. She works out six days a week and with a personal trainer two days a week. So far she has lost 15 pounds.

“I feel good. I feel a lot better,” she said. “I’m not worried about the holidays.”

Many people worry about putting on pounds during the season. Experts say people can navigate their way through the whirlwind of family dinners, parties and general merry-making and still either lose or maintain weight by eating healthy foods and exercise.

Ann Embry, food and nutrition services director at Greenview Regional Hospital and a registered dietitian, said people often lose their internal radar a bit during the holidays when it comes to food.

“There’s such an easier access of food, and we get this mental thing that it’s the holidays. It’s time to celebrate,” she said. “It’s OK, but the holiday season keeps going longer and longer. Instead of indulging over the holiday season, we’re indulging for two or three weeks, and that can catch up with you.”

It’s important to keep as much of a normal routine as possible, Embry said.

“I know it’s busy. Typically homemade food is healthier for us than foods on the fly,” she said. “Try to schedule shopping at times that we have time to cook. There’s something about spending money on food that makes us want to eat all of it.”

Andrea Norris, community wellness manager at The Medical Center Health and Wellness Center and a registered dietitian, suggests not skipping meals.

“It’s recommended to eat a light snack to curb your appetite so you don’t overindulge,” she said. “Eat until you’re satisfied, not until you’re stuffed.”

People should also watch their portion sizes, Norris said.

“Watch your portions so you don’t feel like you’re eliminating anything. If they’re small portions in moderation, I think that’s fine. If you eat heavy one meal, then eat a lighter meal the next time,” she said. “Try to get the smaller plates. Don’t go back for seconds. If you do, try to make a healthier choice, like vegetables and fruits.”

In fact, starting with fruits and vegetables can be a good thing, Norris said.

“If you can start your meal with raw vegetables you don’t tend to eat as much because they’re high in fiber,” she said. “They tend to fill you up more.”

Beverages can be a roadblock to maintaining weight, Norris said.

“Beverages can be high in calories. People don’t realize they’re drinking calories,” she said. “Those calories add up. Just because we don’t feel full after we drink doesn’t mean it’s not high in calories.”

Norris and Embry agree that those who are watching their waistlines should bring healthy dishes to potlucks.

“Bring something you know is a little healthier for you that you can share with people. I always love fresh vegetables, relish trays, fruit salad – that’s a nice healthy choice,” Embry said. “If you want to do a dessert, do a yogurt parfait. It’s still good and you can put a holiday twist on it.”

Although you may feel obliged to attend an event, you don’t have to say yes to every single party or gathering, Embry said.

“If you’re really overindulging, you can say, ‘I can’t make it to eat, but I’ll come a little later.’ There’s less temptation than if you were there at the beginning,” she said. “Your meals are not going to be as bad for you as the cheese balls, summer sausages and crab dips. You can still have that fellowship, but bypass the high calorie items.”

Plan time to exercise, Norris said.

“Not only does it help with weight gain, but it also helps release holiday stress. Be realistic. Don’t try to lose pounds during the holidays. Just try to maintain your weight,” she said. “A moderate daily increase in exercise can help decrease weight gain. You burn more calories in the cold because your body temperature tries to stay warm.”

Dale Chaffin, general manager of Workout Anytime, said his staff talks to people when they join the gym to find out what they need.

“We find out what they’re interested in as far as working out and what their goals are,” he said. “We try to find out if they’re doing anything at all. If they’re not, we usually suggest starting with cardio, like walking for 25 minutes. Some people have their own routine already.”

For those who don’t like to work out around a crowd, Workout Anytime’s members are spread out over 24 hours, Chaffin said.

“It helps spread it out to where it’s never really crowded,” he said. “It’s accessible to people who work different shifts.”

Since the gym’s opening on Nov. 1, they have signed up quite a few people, Chaffin said.

“We signed over 20 new members on Monday,” she said. “It could be a mixture of us being new and being after the holidays.”

Young plans to continue exercising her way through the holidays. She said the price of having a personal trainer is worth it because being healthy now can help her avoid many doctor and hospital fees in the future.

“I’m so motivated right now,” she said.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Medical Center begins project to update first-floor main corridor

The Daily News, originally published on 12/1/2011

The first phase of renovation of The Medical Center’s first-floor main corridor began today and will continue through Jan. 11. Updates such as new flooring, rails and paint, as well as modernization of public bathrooms, will be included in the renovation, according to a release from The Medical Center.

During this phase, two public entrances will be closed: the outpatient entrance on Park Street and the side entrance on the Second Avenue side of the campus.

All patient registration normally completed in the outpatient area will be moved to the Diagnostic Imaging Center registration area. Patients and visitors coming to The Medical Center for outpatient services or procedures should use the Diagnostic Imaging Center entrance on the High Street side of the campus.

Temporary parking will be designated in the back of the emergency room parking lot across the street from the Diagnostic Imaging Center on High Street.

Patients and visitors who normally use the Second Avenue entrance should enter through the main entrance of The Medical Center on Park Street.

Two other sections within the main corridor will be closed for renovation. Signs will be posted to direct patients and visitors through alternate routes.

The renovation will be divided into three phases to minimize inconvenience and to ensure that alternate access routes are available. Completion of the entire project is expected in early May.

The cost of the renovation is $750,000, according to The Medical Center Vice President Doris Thomas.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Surgical Weight Loss Program offers options for patients

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 11/5/2011

Keri Clark hadn’t always been overweight.

“I gained a little bit after getting married and having kids,” she said.

In 2001, she had twins and nearly died.

“I had high blood pressure issues. They were premature,” she said. “I was going into kidney failure. I stayed in the hospital for almost a month.”

Her metabolism changed and Clark said she “really blew up,” going from 180 pounds to 269 pounds from 2002 to 2003.

“I didn’t exercise,” she said. “I never did when I was younger.”

After having the twins, Clark became a labor and delivery nurse, often working 12-hour shifts.

“My knees and back were hurting. It was a very demanding job,” she said. “It’s what made me want to do it.”

“It” was weight loss surgery. Clark had a duodenal switch, which involves making the stomach smaller and rerouting the small intestine. She had the surgery in March 2010 in Nashville.

“I don’t think it’s for everybody, but I think everybody should have the option,” she said of weight loss surgery. “You have to do your own research. Be honest with yourself. Is this surgery right for me?”

Clark is now helping others have the option as a bariatric nurse liaison for The Medical Center’s new Surgical Weight Loss Program. Located on the first floor of Riverside Professional Center, the program offers support for patients before and after their operations, which will be done at The Medical Center. The service offers everything a patient may need, including a seminar to help potential patients learn more, insurance specialists, a nurse practitioner, a psychologist and a dietitian. There is also a support group that works in conjunction with the program.

“We do laparoscopic surgery. It’s minimally invasive,” said Dr. John Oldham, who, along with his partner, Dr. Derek Weiss, will do the operations. “It’s much better for patient outcomes. We’ve done 6,000 procedures and haven’t had to convert anyone to an open procedure.”

Oldham and Weiss are bariatric surgeons with Bluegrass Bariatric Surgical Associates in Louisville. They will perform different types of surgery, including the adjustable gastric band, which is placed around the top part of the stomach to reduce food intake; sleeve gastrectomy, in which the outer 85 percent of the stomach is removed, making it the size of a banana; gastric bypass, in which a pouch for food is made at the upper end of the stomach and the pouch is connected to the upper small intestine; and the greater curvature plication, which is new.

“No insurance covers it yet. It’s an investigative procedure,” he said. “You fold the outer portion of the stomach in and make it smaller.”

Patients usually have to have a body mass index of 35 or greater and some related condition such as sleep apnea, diabetes or heart disease, in order for insurance to cover surgery, Oldham said. Those with a BMI of 40 and up don’t have to have a health condition for insurance to cover it. Gastric band surgery is available for those with a BMI of 30 to 34.9, but insurance does not cover it.

Each surgery is a tool designed to help the patient get to a healthy weight, and each one is different, Oldham said. Gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients lose the majority of their weight in the first year – 60 percent to 70 percent of excess body weight. The gastric band procedure is the safest because there is no cutting the stomach or rerouting the intestines.

“There is no magic procedure. They have to commit to do this,” he said. “There is a lot of education involved. A lot require a six-month diet before they have surgery.”

There is also more education after the surgery, including time with an exercise physiologist and support group meetings, Oldham said.

“They commit to being patients for the rest of their lives. Once a year, we check their vitamin levels and make sure their bodies are doing what they should be doing,” he said. “Exercise has to become an important part of their lives as well. You have to be committed to make changes in your lifestyle to do it.”

Clark said she started thinking about weight loss surgery in 2007. She had family members who were obese and wanted her life to be different.

“I worked with people who had it done,” she said. “It’s scary because you’re choosing to have surgery. What kind of life am I going to have if I don’t?”

After her surgery, Clark was in the hospital for five days. Her surgery was not laparoscopic. She understands that people worry about the possibility of complications, but today’s surgeries are more advanced, she said.

“We have to overcome ’70s and ’80s surgery,” she said. “People died during those surgeries.”

Clark has made some lifestyle changes since her surgery and is about 8 pounds from her goal weight.

“When you start to feel full, you stop,” she said. “If you try to stuff yourself, for me it really hurts. It’s not just an uncomfortable feeling.”

Clark said her feelings about food have changed. Some people feel as if they should have an entire cake after they have had one piece.

“I had a piece of cake, and it was really good, but I don’t have to eat the rest of it,” she said. “I’ll get cravings, but it’s not like I have to go eat all of it.”

She eats a high protein, low carbohydrate diet and no longer craves empanadas, which was her favorite food.

“It changes your taste buds,” she said. “You’ve got to change a little bit.”

Clark said weight loss surgery is a tool, not a cure.

“You can gain it back,” she said. “It’s a tool, like you would use health equipment at BAC.”

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

'Winter blues' hitting again: Steps urged to fight seasonal disorder

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 11/5/2011

Some people find no joy in the end of daylight saving time.

It brings shorter days with less sunlight. For some people it’s the beginning of the “winter blues,” or Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year.

“People with SAD have symptoms that start in the fall and may continue through the winter months. Reduced sunlight can drop serotonin levels in people with SAD,” said Dr. Mrinal Mullick, a psychiatrist at The Medical Center. “The biological internal clock of the Circadian rhythm tells when we’re asleep and when we’re awake. It’s the destruction of the Circadian rhythm. It’s a combination of genetics and brain chemistry.”

SAD is different from general depression, Mullick said.

“It’s mostly associated with oversleeping and a craving for high-carb foods,” he said. “They have a feeling of hopelessness, a loss of energy and a loss of pleasure in activities.”

Greenview Regional Hospital respiratory coordinator Tuyen Trinh said some of the symptoms of SAD include depression, sleep problems, a tendency to overeat, loss of concentration, anxiety, mood problems and lowered sex drive.

“Four to 6 percent of the population suffer from SAD. Adults, teens and children can have it,” she said. “A lot of people have it but don’t know they have it. It happens in females four times more than in males.”

When men have SAD, though, their symptoms are more severe, Mullick said. Other risk factors for SAD include having certain other mental illnesses and how close one lives to the equator.

“The further you live away from the equator, the prevalence increases,” he said. “If you already have depression or bipolar disorder, it can make it worse.”

Although SAD can’t be prevented, there are ways to ease the symptoms, including using light therapy, Trinh said. People should be cautious with it and consult their doctors because UV lights can be damaging to the eyes.

“You can use a light box. It emits enough light for the body to soak up or you can sit near a window,” she said. “Take walks in the afternoon. Do things outdoors.”

People can use light therapy for an hour or two daily, Mullick said.

“It starts working quickly, in two to four days with very little side effects,” he said.

Some people may need antidepressants such as Paxil, Zoloft or Prozac, Mullick said.

“If people have typical SAD, they start taking it before the symptoms start,” he said. “They generally continue for a couple of months after the symptoms resolve.”

Psychotherapy can also help, Trinh said.

“It can help identify negative thoughts and changes,” she said. “Once you understand it, you won’t feel as bad.”

Mullick and Trinh encourage lifestyle changes to help ease symptoms.

“Trim branches at your home so you can have more sunlight. Sit next to the windows at work. Take a walk outside,” Mullick said. “If you are eating lunch in the office, sit in the park and eat it if it’s not very cold. Physical exercise helps relieve stress and anxiety.”

Developing healthy sleeping and eating habits and having a strong support team of family and friends can help, Trinh said.

“Socialize,” she said. “One of the symptoms of SAD is being withdrawn. Take trips where there is more light and come back when winter is over.”

Students should ask for help if they have SAD and lose concentration in class, Trinh said.

“During that time you may not have focus like you would another time,” she said.

Be patient, Trinh said.

“Don’t expect symptoms to go away immediately,” she said. “Don’t be too rough on yourself.”

People should not view SAD as a weakness, Mullick said.

“You should not just ignore it if the symptoms are persistent,” he said. “Get help, especially if you have suicidal tendencies.”

Trinh agreed.

“People often disregard. They just go on through the winter like that,” she said. “There’s less light. We can’t stop that. We can only prepare ourselves. Talk to your doctor on recommendations on how to treat it.”

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Morgantown toddler progresses in battle with spina bifida

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 10/22/2011

Zoe Lovell happily banged two plastic cups together as Julie Thornton, an occupational therapist at The Medical Center, clapped her own hands and said, “Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.”

The year-old Morgantown toddler later cried in frustration when Thornton held toy keys slightly out of her grasp in hopes that Zoe would reach further to grab them.

“Yay for Zoe!” Thornton cheered whenever Zoe got the keys. “Good girl!”

Zoe was receiving occupational therapy Wednesday for visual motor and fine motor skill delays she has because of spina bifida.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov, spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. The condition can happen anywhere along the spine if the neural tube doesn’t close all the way. It can cause physical and mental disabilities that range from mild to severe, depending on the size and location of the opening in the spine and whether part of the spinal cord and nerves are affected.

Thornton, who has been working with Zoe for about 10 months, said she was helping Zoe with a variety of things, such as grasping objects with her thumb and index finger and crossing her midsection from one hand to the other instead of reaching out for things with both hands.

“She’s progressing well,” Thornton said. “I was seeing her once a week. Now I’m seeing her every other week.”

John and Hillary Lovell, Zoe’s parents, tried for a long time to get pregnant with their first child, Faith, now 2.

“It was a very uneventful pregnancy,” she said.

The couple didn’t expect a second pregnancy to happen quickly. They were surprised when one month after they started trying for a second child, Hillary Lovell was pregnant. This pregnancy wasn’t uneventful, though. When she was 17 weeks pregnant, the couple went in for a routine ultrasound.

“I thought we would find out if we were having a little boy or a little girl,” John Lovell said.

Instead, the couple were referred to a specialist, who told them their baby had spina bifida. “We were heartbroken, but we’re thankful we got to be prepared for that,” John Lovell said. “We got more comfortable with it over time.”

The couple started going to see a specialist in Nashville every month to check on Zoe’s progress. Toward the end of the pregnancy, Hillary Lovell was being seen three times each week. She went to the hospital for a scheduled cesarean section. Zoe had surgery the day after her birth, Hillary Lovell said.

“We were in the (neonatal intensive care unit) after her birth,” she said. “There was an opening in her back. They had to go in and close that.”

Zoe has a shunt because of hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the skull that could lead to brain swelling. The hydrocephalus may have caused Zoe to be farsighted, Hillary Lovell said. On Wednesday, she peered at the world through pink glasses.

“We have baby glasses all over the house,” Hillary Lovell said, laughing.

The couple wanted Zoe to have the best life possible. Her name even expresses that desire.

“We chose to name her ‘Zoe’ because it’s the Greek word for ‘life’ – abundant life,” John Lovell said. “We want her not to just have a life, but an abundant life, that this world would not hinder her.”

Zoe has physical therapy each week and occupational therapy every two weeks at The Medical Center. First Steps, a statewide early intervention system that helps children from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays, helps Zoe at the family’s home. Zoe also visits the Spina Bifida Clinic at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where she sees a neurosurgeon, orthopedist, urologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist and dietitian.

“All the doctors you need come to you,” John Lovell said. “I counted six doctors on one visit. We go once every three months.”

Zoe’s opening was low on her back. She can move everything down to her toes, Hillary Lovell said.

“She’s just weaker,” she said. “She has gross motor delays. They’re on their own timetable.”

She may also have bowel and bladder issues to some degree, John Lovell said.

“How that plays out is such a wide range,” he said.

Zoe has been a joy for the couple. They laughed as Zoe smiled and babbled.

“She has a personality,” Hillary Lovell said.

The Lovells want people to know about spina bifida and encourage women of childbearing age to take a daily multivitamin with folic acid, because it may reduce the risk of spina bifida. They also want people to know that having a child with spina bifida is “not the end of the world.”

“The doctor will try to tell you you won’t have a good life, but you definitely do,” said Hillary Lovell, gazing at her smiling daughter sitting in her lap. “You manage it and move on. It’s not nearly as scary as I anticipated. You educate yourself.”

“And be patient,” John Lovell added.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Strong finish takes victory in 10K

by Zach Greenwell, The Daily News, originally published on 10/16/2011

Former Western Kentucky runner Patrick Cheptoek set the pace for most of The Medical Center 10K Classic on Saturday.

But it was that other fraction of a second that made the difference.

Cheptoek was edged at the finish line by winner Reuben Mwei in the 32nd annual running of the event, creating the closest finish in the race’s history.

“The race was great, and the weather was just perfect conditions for running,” Cheptoek said. “I ran well and led the whole race from the start until the very end, but the only bit of disappointment was that I was kicked at the finish line. But overall, I’m happy.”

Mwei, a Kenya native, officially finished with a time of 29:13, while Cheptoek finished with a 29:14. But the more precise results showed that Mwei’s burst past Cheptoek at the finish line gave him the win by 19 tenths of a second.

“I caught up with a pack and decided to not push it and stay with them and see how it goes,” Mwei said. “But then on the last mile, I decided to just go for it. (Cheptoek) was pushing it really hard, and I thought, ‘I need to make a move now.’ ”

Cheptoek, from Kapchorusa, Uganda, graduated from WKU in August and decided to turn professional. He ran two races in Illinois and Ohio prior to Saturday, setting personal bests in the 5K and 10K.

“I’ve put my effort into it, and I’ve been really happy with my running so far,” Cheptoek said.

Ngatuny Emmanuel finished third in the men’s division with a time of 29:35.

Bonita Paul, also a WKU graduate, won the women’s division with a time of 35:34.

The victory had been a long time coming for Paul, who finished between second and fifth in her first four entrances in the race.

Paul was a member of the WKU track and cross-country teams until her graduation in 2005, but she still lives in Bowling Green and continues to train.

“It was great, with all of the local people,” Paul said. “They’ve seen me running around town every day, and they were cheering me on, yelling my name and number.”

Paul finished ahead of Sonja Friend-Uhl and Maria Busienei, who recorded times of 36:09 and 37:51, respectively.

Other division winners were Darlene Hoagland, senior grand masters female; Gary Romesser, senior grand masters male; Lilly Wheet, grand masters female; Barry Ross, grand masters male; Yvonne Petkus, masters female; and Chad Newton, masters male.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)